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Governor Doyle Announces Major Investment in Research and Engineering in Milwaukee

MILWAUKEE - Governor Jim Doyle today announced major new investments that will support research, improve health, and create the economic engines for the future of Southeast Wisconsin and the entire state. The Governor's investments include an additional $10 million to support groundbreaking research at the Medical College of Wisconsin, $3 million to help establish a new engineering campus for the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and a total of $500,000 to help plan the School of Public Health at UW-Milwaukee.

"For Wisconsin to thrive, we need a Milwaukee that is strong, safe, and prospering," Governor Doyle said. "To keep Wisconsin competitive we need to continue making smart investments that will harness the talent and resources of Southeast Wisconsin. These investments will preserve Wisconsin's leading role in ground breaking research and will create the high-paying jobs of tomorrow."

Today's investments will support collaborative efforts at the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) between institutions across Southeast Wisconsin, including UW-Milwaukee, the Milwaukee School of Engineering and Marquette University. Last month, the Governor announced that he would direct $2.5 million from the state operating budget to support these efforts at MCW.

The funding will support the cost of purchase and installation of a new General Electric 7T MRI imaging scanner for expanded research in areas of Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Multiple Sclerosis, and Epilepsy to name a few. Currently, there are only two of these scanners in operation - University of Minnesota and Mass General/Harvard University.

This initiative will build upon the research of the internationally recognized Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Center at MCW. It will allow all the universities to maximize their full research potential through collaborative efforts. For patients, it will mean access to new technologies that originate in Wisconsin and can assist with earlier diagnosis of certain neurological diseases.

Located near the Milwaukee County Research Park, the Medical College of Wisconsin, and the Milwaukee Regional Medical Center, the new engineering campus at UW-Milwaukee would house the Institute for Biomedical and Health Technologies, and could also be home to the Biomedical Technology Alliance of Southeast Wisconsin. This would provide an ideal setting for enhanced collaboration among the Medical College of Wisconsin, Froedtert and Children's Hospitals, the Blood Research Center, GE Health Care, and other businesses in the area.

In addition to $200,000 included in the budget unveiled last month, Governor Doyle is providing another $300,000 for UW-Milwaukee to explore the concept of a School of Public Health near downtown Milwaukee to generate more health care resources for Wisconsin's largest metropolitan area.

Today's announcement is part of the Governor's broad effort to strengthen the Milwaukee metropolitan area to benefit the entire state. As part of the budget announced last month, Governor Doyle included a comprehensive plan to strengthen Milwaukee and all of Southeast Wisconsin. From investments in infrastructure, to health and child care, to Milwaukee Public Schools and higher education, to community and economic development, as well as crime reduction, Governor Doyle is working to equip Southeast Wisconsin with tools and resources it needs to stay safe, healthy, and competitive.